Thursday - Oct. 17, 2024 - Mission eyes tax hike

Author

Tyler Olsen
October 17, 2024

🌦 High 11C | Your forecast

Good morning!

I spent this morning listening to a lecture about the future of local news and the impact of its decline in many US communities. The talk stressed how the disappearance of local news has an impact on local governance, community bonds, and all that stuff. I have questions about correlation and causation: I think often the disappearance of local news does weaken communities, but I also think weak communities are more likely to lose their local media organizations.

I've been shipped out to this conference because of the perceived success of the Fraser Valley Current. That's gratifying and it is a testament not only to the work we've done—of which we are proud—but to the support of our readers and Insider members. Thanks for doing your part to support us and your community. And if you are not an Insider member, you can go here to support us—and the institution of local news in the Fraser Valley. Just a couple bucks a week really does make a difference.

– Tyler

NEWS

Fraser Valley promises

BC’s three major parties—the BC Conservatives, BC NDP, and BC Greens—are all promising some Fraser Valley-specific projects in their platforms, including hospital upgrades, new railways, and flood protection. 📷 Grace Kennedy

With just days to go before British Columbians head to the polls, the province’s three major parties have all released their campaign platforms. (While the BC NDP and the BC Greens announced their full platforms earlier this month, the BC Conservatives were rolling theirs out in stages. The final platform was released this week.)

The parties all promised improved transit, better flood protections, and updated healthcare—with their own variations on how to get that done. Although most of these promises are from a BC-wide perspective, there are a few Fraser Valley-specific projects the parties have identified in their platforms.

Need to Know

⚖ The trial for the murder of a man in a Walnut Grove motel two years ago has been delayed by another week [Langley Advance Times]

❔ The City of Abbotsford is conducting its fourth quality of life survey; residents can share their thoughts until Nov. 9 [City of Abbotsford]

👉 Life in Mission is getting worse, a resident satisfaction survey has found, although most residents are still pretty happy with the overall quality of services they receive [Mission Record]

🌲 The Chilliwack Park Society is looking for new members to join its executive board [Fraser Valley Today]

🚛 A semi-truck driver has been charged after crashing a modular home into an overpass near Abbotsford [CTV]

🤼 Two wrestlers from Abbotsford and Mission will be heading to Albania next week to compete with the U23 World Team [Abbotsford News]

📸 CURRENT CAM: Congratulations to Rob Moller, who was the first person to identify yesterday’s Current Cam as the public art installation outside The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford.

🗳 Election 2024

The BC Election campaign continues until election day on Saturday, Oct. 19. Find everything you need to know before the day by visiting our general election hub. Our local results pages are now live, and will be updated when polls close at 8pm on Saturday.

The latest

👉 The Hospital Employees’ Union is asking for an investigation into Langley Conservative candidate Judy Toor’s use of the title ‘doctor’; Toor attended an unaccredited institution that states its graduates are not doctors or naturopaths / The BC NDP slammed Toor for ‘misrepresenting’ her credentials at a press conference Tuesday [Langley Advance Times]

👉 Chilliwack candidates share their thoughts on education with local teachers in a questionnaire; the area’s two BC Conservative candidates opted out [Chilliwack Progress]

👉 Advance voting is becoming more popular, but those polls don’t show which way the election will go, an expert says [Vancouver Sun]

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The Agenda

Mission is considering a 9% tax hike in its budget deliberations this fall. 📸 Google Street View

Mission eyes possible 9% property tax and utility hike

Mission taxpayers could be facing a potential 9% property tax and utility rate increase this summer. But Mission's mayor says discussions are likely to bring that figure down before people actually get their tax bills.

Rising wages, previously planned service increases, and already-signed contracts could push operating costs up by more than 10% if the city does not cut services elsewhere, council was told at a budgeting meeting last Tuesday. Of the $4.8 million in higher costs, nearly three-quarters is needed to meet contracted wage hikes for firefighters, Mounties, municipal employees, and transit workers. That means that a 7.7% tax increase is needed just to pay existing city workers. Any new programs or service expansions to account for growth will require spending more.

For the owner of a $1.1 million home whose property value rises at an average rate, a 10% municipal tax hike would result in about $273 in additional taxes.

Mayor Paul Horn said that the suggested increase "is already looking like it is going to be significantly different." He said those costs are likely to be lower when the city approaches the public for feedback on its proposed budget.

New spending plans are relatively limited, leaving the city with little ability to scale back the upcoming tax hike. The city plans to transfer about $500,000 to its capital reserve. If it proceeds, that will cost the average homeowner an additional $26 in taxes. The city expects revenues to rise by about $700,000, thanks to new development. Most of that money would go towards new spending initiatives, unless council decides otherwise. Budget discussions will continue through the fall.

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🗓 Things to do this week/end

💃 Halloween dance: The Ucwalmicw All Nations Services Society in Abbotsford hosts a 19+ Halloween dinner and dance on Saturday, Oct. 19. Dinner is at 6pm, dancing begins at 7pm. Details online.

🚗 Boot sale: St. Andrews Anglican Church on Old Yale Road in Langley hosts its final boot sale of the year on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9am to 2pm. Check out crafters, home businesses, and garage items for sale. Book an appointment to have your small items repaired at the boot sale by calling Rob at 778-773-3140.

🎃 Pumpkin patch: Taves Family Farms in Abbotsford has opened its pumpkin patch for the season. The pumpkin patch includes a Princess Carriage and Magical Pumpkin Garden. Details and tickets online.

Want even more? Insider members get a comprehensive events listing every Thursday, plus a weekly Saturday round-up edition with behind-the-scenes content. Becoming a member costs less than $2 a week and helps support the ongoing production of The Current’s newsletters and in-depth journalism. Become a member here.

Have an event to tell us about? Fill out this form to have it highlighted here.

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Tyler Olsen

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